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As we enter Oscar and holiday season, there will be lots of great movies coming out! Here are the movies that I’m most excited to see. I’ve split the list, the ones up top are the ones I’ll most definitely make time for in the theater. The rest of the list are movies I really want to see but may not make it to depending on time!

Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Nov 22)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

I’m excited to see this one. Loved the books and loved the first movie, so I’m hoping I like this one as well. I’m curious to see how the create the arena as I have a very specific picture in my head from the books.

Enders Game (Nov 1)

A brilliant young strategist rises to the top of his class in Battle School while training to defend Earth against hostile aliens intent on exterminating the entire human race in this sci-fi epic based on the celebrated novel by Orson Scott Card. In the not-too-distant future, our planet has come under attack from a malevolent race of aliens known as the Formics. Incredibly, fearless International Fleet Commander Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley) sent them fleeing back into the stars, becoming a living legend in the process. But decorated Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) knows that the Formics will soon return even stronger than they were before, and he’s determined to find a new hero who can meet them head on. Enter Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a modest young man with vast untapped potential. Upon being recruited into Battle School, Ender partakes in a grueling series of simulations, effortlessly mastering every challenge presented to him. Celebrated by his peers and respected by his superiors, Ender is quickly promoted to Command School, where the one and only Mazer Rackham provides him with the knowledge and tools needed to save mankind from certain extinction. As the final battle approaches, Ender prepares to embrace his destiny as one of the greatest heroes in the history of planet Earth.

I am so excited to see this movie. I was excited when it was announced and then SUPER excited when I saw the first trailer. My friend Brian at work turned me on to this book when I was looking for a good gift for my god son for Christmas. Asa Butterfield did an Ask Me Anything over on Reddit a few months ago and it sounded like he felt the movie stayed true to the book. He also seemed like a very down to earth kid. I hope that they stay as true to the book as possible, the most important element is the ending, it was just so very unexpected and awesome.

Thor: The Dark World (Nov 8)

Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

I just like action movies. Oh, and Chris Hemsworth. I mean really, he’s just stunning as Thor. I just expect to be entertained by this one!

The Wolf of Wall Street (Nov 15)

Martin Scorsese reteams with Leonardo DiCaprio for this adaptation of Jordan Belfort’s memoir about his exploits as a crooked banker. Terence Winter provides the screenplay.

Leo is in this, need I say more? I do hope that this one earns Leo his much deserved Oscar, the word around town is that this one just may do it. I’ll actually be shocked if this movie doesn’t turn out a few Oscar nominations.

I really want to see this one, it looks very interesting. Yet another one that should turn out an Oscar nod or two based on what I’ve seen of it so far. I tend to really like historical movies, so I have high hopes.

These next ones are movies that I’d really like to see, but based on time, I may not get to see all of them. So these are a little further down my list than the ones above.

Rush (Sept 20)

The epic action-drama stars Chris Hemsworth as the charismatic Englishman James Hunt and Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds) as the disciplined Austrian perfectionist Niki Lauda, whose clashes on the Grand Prix racetrack epitomized the contrast between these two extraordinary characters, a distinction reflected in their private lives. Set against the sexy and glamorous golden age of Formula 1 racing, Rush portrays the exhilarating true story of two of the greatest rivals the world has ever witnessed—handsome English playboy Hunt and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Lauda.

More Chris Hemsworth! They are really pushing this one, I’ve seen the trailers in most of the movies I’ve seen lately and I feel like there are ad’s for it on tv constantly. It looks pretty good, I have absolutely no Grand Prix knowledge, but I think I’d like this movie.

Out of the Furnace (Dec 6)

A Rust Belt ex-con must choose between escaping a life of poverty and rescuing his brother from a life of crime in this drama from Crazy Heart writer/director Scott Cooper. With the dream of a better life always just out of reach, Russell (Christian Bale) and his younger brother Rodney (Casey Affleck) find their futures taking a grim turn when Russell ends up in jail. Meanwhile, on the outside, Rodney falls in with a notorious group of criminals who threaten to destroy any hope for a better tomorrow. Later, when Russell is released from prison the temptation to cut his ties with the past clashes with his sense of duty to his brother, who is headed down the road to ruin.

I’ve seen the trailer for this a few times now and it looks really good. As usual Christian Bale goes full on in character. I’ve rarely seen an actor get so into whatever role he’s playing. Here’s another one that I’m guessing will turn out a few Oscar nominations. I really want to see this, I’m hoping I can get to see this in December.

Captain Phillips (Oct 11)

Captain Phillips is director Paul Greengrass’s multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. It is – through Greengrass’s distinctive lens – simultaneously a pulse-pounding thriller and a complex portrait of the myriad effects of globalization. The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama’s commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (two time Academy Award® winner Tom Hanks), and his Somali counterpart, Muse (Barkhad Abdi). Set on an incontrovertible collision course off the coast of Somalia, both men will find themselves paying the human toll for economic forces outside of their control.

Yet another movie that is being heavily pushed. I generally like Tom Hanks, and this looks like a very good movie. I’m curious as to how true to life it will actually be.

Runner Runner (Oct 4)

Believing that he has been swindled, Princeton grad student Richie (Justin Timberlake) goes to Costa Rica to confront online-gambling tycoon Ivan Block (Ben Affleck). Block’s promises of immense wealth and power have a seductive effect on Richie, until he learns the shocking truth about his new mentor. When Richie is coerced by the FBI to help bring Block to justice, he faces the biggest gamble of his life: outmaneuvering the two forces closing in on him.

Mostly, I want to see this because of JT. It’s definitely a serious role and I do think he is a decent actor. I have high hopes for this movie and I hope it turns out to be good. As we know, Ben Affleck movies tend to be hit or miss, so this will likely be either awesome, or really bad.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (Nov 27)

Nelson Mandela’s life story is told in this adaptation of the South African leader’s autobiography that details his early life, education, 27-year imprisonment, and eventual presidency and rebuilding of the previously segregated country.

Another historical movie. I have a great deal of respect for Mandela and what he did and went through. The trailers for this movie have made me want to see this movie.

The Book Thief (Nov 15)

A young girl (Sophie Nelisse) living with foster parents (Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson) in Nazi Germany begins collecting forbidden books and sharing them with the Jewish refugee hiding in her home in this war drama adapted from Markus Zusak’s book.

Shockingly, I have not read this book. I’m going to try to squeeze it in before I see it though. I love books and movies like this. While not a true story, it is still historical in that it is set during WW2.

Don Jon (Sept 27)

Jon Martello (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a strong, handsome, good old fashioned guy. His buddies call him Don Jon due to his ability to “pull” a different woman every weekend, but even the finest fling doesn’t compare to the bliss he finds alone in front of the computer watching pornography. Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson) is a bright, beautiful, good old fashioned girl. Raised on romantic Hollywood movies, she’s determined to find her Prince Charming and ride off into the sunset. Wrestling with good old fashioned expectations of the opposite sex, Jon and Barbara struggle against a media culture full of false fantasies to try and find true intimacy in this unexpected comedy written and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

This was a last minute addition, but honestly may end up toward the top of the list. It looks so funny and I’m guessing has some aspects that all of us who have had to date in the past 15 years have experienced. I mean I’ll be honest, when I went to Ireland I looked at my friend Sara and said “the movies lied to me. Ireland was supposed to be full of pubs with cute, charming bartenders and old drunk Irishmen who wanted to tell us stories.” Most pubs were actually full of middle aged paunchy guys who just wanted to watch their football. I’ll admit to being slightly disappointed. I think this movie explores that kind of “fantasy” which I developed. Damn movies, ruining my life obviously 🙂

Those are the movies I want to see, are you excited to see any of these?!